Today I’d like to voice a complaint about modern technology: I hate those automated answering machines that pick up when you call customer service. These machines offer you an endless list of “please press” options before they allow you to get near an actual human. I understand why this technology is used, but it makes me long for the good-old days when businesses actually answered their phones and appreciated personal contact with their customers. These days, however, it seems that too many companies force you to go through a labyrinth of frustrating questions and options before you are allowed any human contact.

As I write this, I imagine that there are many of you nodding your heads in frustrated agreement as you painfully identify with this search for the Holy Grail of customer service… a human voice. So, with that said, I have a tongue-in-cheek suggestion for the president of the United States. To create new jobs, I suggest we hire phone operators that will spare us the agony of the automated response. I’m not very confident that my simple wish will be granted by the president, but I definitely feel better getting this pet peeve off my chest! Please push “1” if you agree…